Obstetrical instrument.



M. I. SHERIDAN. OBSTETRICAL INSTRUMENT.

1,295,219 APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9.19I7- Patented 25 Psi c7 MATHEW J.SHERIDAN, or BLAGKWELL, OKLAHOMA.

OBSTETRIGAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

Application filed October 9, 1917. SeriaiNo. 195,569.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MATHEW J. SHERI- DAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Blackwell, in the county of Kay and State ofOklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inObstetrical Instruments; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to obstetrical instruments, and has for one of itsobjects the production of an instrument of this nature for aiding in theparturition of the fetus of certain kinds of the viviparous animals, andis more especially designed for use in thg delivery of sows that requireartificial a1 Another object of this invention is to provide anobstetrical instrument which can be safely and easily operated and whichis provided with means for engaging the head of the fetus at a pluralityof points to thereby distribute the strains in a manner to preventinjury to the tender fetus.

Another object of this invention is to so construct the operating endsof the instrument that their extremitieswill closely contact with eachother and to provide the instrument with locking means for preventingthe casual separation of the operating ends of the instrument untilrequired to be separated.

Another object of this invention is to so attach certain of the ends ofthe cords or snares employed to one of the jaws of the instrumentwhereby to simplify the actuation of the cords or snares and avoidconfusion whichmight result in one cord being drawn tighter than theother and cause injury to the fetus.

Another object of this invention is to provide an instrument of thisnature which is light and simple in construction, efficient in operationand durable, and one that can be manufactured and sold uponthe market ata nominal cost.

These and other objects and advantages will more fully appear as thenature of the invention is more clearly understood from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings whereinthere is disclosed one embodiment of the invention, but which issusceptibleto numerous alterations and variations in the form,construction and arrangement of the parts to meet the exigencies of thecase without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding thescope of the claims. I In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view ofthe instrument, showing the same in opened position.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the operating end of the instrument, showingthe operating jaws thereof in partially closed position with the cordsor snares drawn partially taut.

Fig. 3 is" a similar view of Fig. 2, excepting, that this figure showsthe cords or snares formed in loops.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denotecorresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 and 2 indicate apair of co-acting arms provided with the respective handles 3 and 4 andhaving their substantially central portions flattened laterally and benttransversely in opposite directions at spaced points to provide theco-acting pivotal members-5 and 6 which are connected by the pivotalmember 6'.

Formed upon the outer ends of the arms 1 and 2 respectively are theflattened cooperating jaws 7 and 8, the arms 1 and 2 being respectivelybent in opposite directions as at 9 and 10 so as to deflect the opposingcooperating jaws 7 and 8 slightly inwardly toward each other So thattheir outer ends will closely contact with each other when the jaws 7and 8 are operated to closed position, and formed through the jaw 7 arethe plurality of vertical apertures 11 and also formed through the jaw-8 are the plurality of vertical apertures 12 registering with theapertures 11, and for maintaining the jaws 7 and 8 in closed positionthe outer end of the handle 3 is formed with the annular groove 13 andthe knob 14 while the handle 4 is provided with the flattened andtransversely apertured end 15 and in which is mounted the ring 16, whichring 16 is seatedin the groove 13 of the handle 3 and retained in thegroove 13 by the knob 14 when the handles 3 and 4 are forced to closedposition.

Passingthrough the apertures 11 of the arm 7 from the upper side thereofand through the apertures 12 of the arm 8 from the under side thereofare the cords or forces the handles 3 and 4. inwardly snares 17, 18 and19 of any suitable and desired lengths and having their end portionswhich pass through the apertures 12 of the arm 8 secured therein as bythe knots 20 or other suitable securing means, the oposite ends of thecords or snares 17, '18 and .19 may extend for any desired and suitabledistance rearwardly or in the direction of the handles 3 and 1.

The operation of the device will be briefly described as follows Whenemploying the device the operator toward each other and passes the ring16 over the knob 1d and into the groove 13 for locking the handlestogether and this operation forces the jaws 7 and 8 inwardly toward eachother with their outer ends in close contact with each other which isobtained by the inward deflection of the jaws 7 and 8 toward each otherand the cords or snares 17, 18 and 19 are drawn rearwardly and tautuntil the operating end of the instrument assumes the position shown inFig. 2, with the exception that the ends of the jaws 7 and 8 are inclose contact with each other. The instrument is now inserted in thevagina of the animal and along the left side thereof to the'os uteri ormouth of the womb, and

if necessary into the uterus or the womb, V

or in other words until the head of the fetus has been reached with thearms 7 and 8 at one side of the head of the fetus. The ring 16 of thehandle 4 is now released from its engagement with the knob H of thehandle 3 and the handles 3 and 4: forced apart sufliciently forseparating the jaws 7 and 8 a sufficient distance apart so that the arm7 will pass over the head of the fetus and the arm 8 will pass beneaththe, head of the fetuswhen the instrument is manipulated laterally forpassing the arms 7 and 8 to the opposite side of the vagina with thecords or snares 17, 18 and 19 engaging one side of the head of the fetusand being drawn through the respective apertures 11 of the aw 7 and atthis stage the handles 3 and 1 are now forced together and the ring 16of the handle 4: is positioned in locked engagement with. the knob 14 ofthe arm 3. This second closing of the handles 3 and 1 i of theinstrumentcauses the jaws 7 and 8 to beagain closed in close contact with eachother and at the same time the cords or snares 17, 18 and 19 are furtherdrawn 0r fed through the apertures 11 of the arm 7 with the result thatthe loops 21, 22 and 23, clearly shown in Fig. 3, of the respectivecords or snares 17 18 and 19 are formed and with the loop 21 embracingthe nose of the fetus for holding the same straight, the

loop 22 embracing the head of the fetus Copies of this patent may beobtained for -cords or snares 17 and 18 are held sufliciently taut bythe fingers of the operator and in a, manner so that when the instrumentis withdrawn the fetus may be safely and readily delivered and withoutany injury thereto in view of the fact that by the provision of thetriple loops for distributing the strains to a multiplicity of pointsand at such points where injury to the head of the fetus is less likelyto occur, such injury is avoided. i

It is of course understood that this instrument may be made of anysuitable size and material and while primarily designed for operatingupon sows the same can be varied in size and construction to adapt theinstrument to a wide range of use, while I preferably employ three cordsor snares the same may be increased if desired but not diminished.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

1. An obstetrical instrument comprising pivotally connected membersprovided with a plurality of apertures at different distances from theirpivot, and snaring strands secured at one end in the apertures in onejaw and having their free ends extended through the apertures in theother jaw.

.2. An obstetrical instrument, comprising two counterpart memberspivotally connected together and provided with handles, apertured jawsupon the forward end of said counterpart members, snaring strands passing through said apertures, the forward ends of said snaring strandsbeing secured in the apertures of one of said jaws and passing throughthe opposite jaw, and locking means upon the rear ends of said handles.

8. An obstetrical instrument, comprising two counterpart arms, flattenedand obliquely disposed members at the rear ends of said arms andpivotally connected together, handles extending from said flattened andobliquely disposed members, inwardly deflected apertured jaws upon theforward ends of said arms, snaring strands apertures in the oppositejaw, and means upon the rearends of said handles for main- 7 tainingsaid jaws in closed position.

In. testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

MATHEW J. SHERIDAN,v

Witnesses E. D. LARRABEE, R. W. MoDowELL.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.1"

